1 . While English is getting more important in our schools, Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. But Chinese can be more difficult to learn. At least 16-year-old Piao Chenglong thinks so. “English is easier for me. Chinese characters (汉字) have too many strokes (笔画),” said Piao. “But I want to learn it. I want to study at Beijing University when I grow up.” Piao is from Korea. He came to China in 2008.

In Korea, there are more than 300, 000 Chinese learners like Piao. Some Korean students begin to learn to write the language on their first day at school. To help students learn Chinese, Korea holds speaking competitions for high school students every year.

Chinese isn’t just popular in Korea. People from all the world want to learn it. The Ministry of Education of China says that nearly 130 million people from 85 countries are learning Chinese. This number will be increasing to 800 million in the coming years.

In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. Some American middle schools have Chinese classes. Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots (中国结). Some even try to write and draw in the Chinese way!

People want to learn Chinese because China is becoming such an important country. Foreign countries want to understand China better to help them with business. The Chinese government is also helping the world learn Chinese. It has sent more than 200 Chinese teachers to more than 60 countries in the world. Many more Confucius Institutes (孔子学院) will be set up in the world. These institutes will teach Chinese to foreign students.

1. Which of the following is the topic sentence for the text?

A．Chinese has become popular among foreign kids.

B．Chinese can be more difficult to learn.

C．In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish.

D．Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots.

2. Where does Piao Chenglong come from?

A．China.

B．America.

C．Korea.

D．Spain.

3. According to the text, some American middle school students learn to do the following EXCEPT ________.

A．making jiaozi

B．writing and drawing in the Chinese way

C．tying Chinese knots

D．singing Chinese songs

4. Why do foreign people want to learn Chinese?

A．Because Chinese is getting more important in their schools.

B．Because Chinese characters have too many strokes.

C．Because the number of people learning Chinese will be 800 million.

D．Because China is becoming more and more important in the world.

3 . What ________(种类) of music do you like? Classic music or pop music? (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

4 . By the way, what do you________ (通常) do to memorize new words? (根据汉语提示单词拼写)

5 . This course can teach you theory (理论), but if you want to get a good job, p________ experience is most important. (根据首字母单词拼写)

6 . The government has taken e________ measures to handle the situation. (根据首字母单词拼写)

7 . She tried turning her car key several times, but the ________(发动机) just won’t start. （根据汉语提示单词拼写）

8 . 让张萍玉很惊讶的是，她发现女王的珠宝由皇家特别卫士守护着。
________ her great ________ , Zhang Pingyu found the Queen’s jewels guarded by special royal soldiers .

9 . 值得赞扬的是，这四个国家的确在一些方面共同合作，例如在货币和国际关系方面。
________ ________   ________ the four countries do work together in some areas (eg, the currency and international relations).

10 . 每次霍乱暴发时，就有大批惊恐的老百姓死去。
So many thousands of terrified people died ________ ________ there was an outbreak.